Why Should Class Size Be Reduced
Across the country teachers and students alike struggle in large classes. The teacher is more likely to experience stress and the student is less likely to retain knowledge. Students can feel overwhelmed just as easily as teachers. With a lower likelihood of retaining knowledge students often feel like failures because of low grades. Studies have shown that smaller classes perform better than larger classes. A small class is a class with less than 20 students. In smaller classes, the teacher has fewer papers to grade and students to manage. The teacher is more likely to address the student’s individual needs. Students are more likely to succeed and are often more confident. In the US class size should be reduced to promote better learning.
Studies on students in small classes concluded that small classes increase learning, decrease stress, and create an overall productive classroom. Class size has become more important with the growing population. Groups like minorities are shown to do far better and smaller classes. Researchers aren’t the only ones who agree with smaller classes; students also believe that smaller classes promote better learning. One student said “Class size does matter. I enjoy smaller classes. I feel that individual attention helps to improve education. Classes Thrive better in an environment Where an individual gets more attention. Fewer students in a class mean fewer questions to answer, Fewer copies to make, and fewer tests to grade. Overall, I feel increases towards class size will cause decreases in education.” (2011 anonymous) Laziness would decrease because students would be getting more attention from their teachers. In smaller classes, 4th and 5th graders have had significantly higher grades in math and language arts. Smaller classes have many cognitive effects but they also have many non-cognitive effects. Non-cognitive effects include student self-esteem, engagement, and persistence. One study of reducing class sizes concluded that 80% of reduced classes had large benefits.
The benefits of reducing class size are not just short-term. One of the long-term effects in smaller class sizes Is a higher likelihood of pursuing higher education such as a bachelor’s degree. the people who pursue degrees are more likely to get them in advanced classes such as mathematics, engineering, technology, business, and economics. There is also a higher likelihood of getting high wages. There are also health benefits to smaller classes. There are lower crime rates and fewer welfare recipients. People from smaller classes are more productive citizens and contribute more to the economy. There is also a less likelihood of ending up in jail or trouble with the law. Smaller classes could solve several problems. With a higher level of learning more people will be able to work on some of the issues that need to be attended to. With more people working in higher fields such as economics, the national debt could be reduced. Many National problems could be solved because of people with higher education. Smaller classes promote better learning for all. It is amazing to think about all of the benefits that could come from such a small thing as reducing class size. Small classes to be the answer to many problems.
Some schools might say that they cannot be able to reduce class size due to budget or lack of available teachers. Many disadvantages and obstacles reducing class size have. The biggest is cost. Schools that were reducing class sizes would have to pay more teachers or have to pay teachers extra for working in more classes. Some schools May question whether the costs are worth it; they might not see change happening very quickly since it is a gradual change. Schools may not see it but reducing class size will make many benefits in a student’s life. More space will need to be used to fit multiple smaller classes; some rooms might be divided but that might cause additional noise. Smaller classes might be hard with schools with lower budgets. Areas with not very good school systems may have a harder time reducing the class sizes. An ever-present issue is teacher stress. With teachers working and more classes and longer hours, teachers may become just as stressed as they would be doing shorter hours with larger classes. Students may feel normal or average if they are getting good grades like the rest of the class and a student who may still be struggling may just feel worse than they already feel. Schools might also be worried about after school programs because of cost but in the long run, smaller class sizes are more beneficial. Even though there are disadvantages school systems should try to reduce the class size even if that means cutting after school programs.
Reduced class size should be implemented in the U.S. to promote learning. Both short-term and long-term benefits the U.S. as a whole even in ways that are not visible now. short-term benefits include better their name and that stress. Long-term benefits include higher wages and higher education. Cognitive effects and non-cognitive effects are both due to reduced class size. Cognitive effects include higher grades and higher education. non-cognitive effects include higher self-esteem, perseverance, and motivation. Student teachers and researchers agree that smaller classes are more beneficial. There must be a balance in a small class. crosses must not be too small or too large classes with nine and under students should take on students from larger classes to reduce class sizes. Studies have been conducted and results have shown that class size is important. States should work as best they can to reduce class size. It looks different for each state but it helps to learn overall. Even if the change is gradual it is worth it. Smaller classes could be the answer to many problems.
